Tube forming machine



Dec. 5, 1933. E -r TUBE FORMING momma Fi ledNov. 8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 h m m a T N m e m V w W w W \h 1933- E. coN-n 1,938,096

TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. '8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR [age/7e (baf/ Dec. 5, 1933. I E. com 1,938,096

v TU BE FORMING MACHINE v Filedfibv. 8. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet s E. CONTI TUBE FORMING MACHINE Dec. 5, 1933.

Filed Nov; 8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1933 1,938,096 7 TUBE roams momma Eugene Cong, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignorto Alexan er- Herz,

New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application November 8, 1929. Serial No. 405,566 12 Claims; (01. 93-80) The present invention relates to machines for to paper tubes. v

The invention contemplates the provision of mechanism for forming a continuous tube, and 13 mechanism for cutting off predetermined lengths thereof while the formed tube is being fed continuously forward from the forming mechanism.

The speed of operation of machines of this charactor is usually limited by the speed at which iii the cut-off mechanism can be efiectively operated without unduly mutilating the tubes at the point of severing and without ,too greatrstrain upon the cut-ofi mechanism or other parts of the machine.

The present invention has for an object to provide an improved machine of this character having a cut-off mechanism which will be effective in use and which may be operated at high peed.

will appear hereinafter.

The nature and objects of the invention willbe better understood from a description of a particular illustrative embodiment thereof, and for the purpose of such description reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. la is a detail showing the manner in which the strips of stock are fedto and wound upon the mandrel, and showing the relation of the strips to the winding tape;

Fig. -2 is a side elevation Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at the side of that shown in Fig. 2, and Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive are detail views of the cut-off mechanism, Figs. 7 and 8 being sections on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 4, and Fig. 9 being a section on the correspondin y numbered line on Fig. '7.

This illustrative embodiment of the invention includes abed l5, which is supported by legs 16 of the machine;

opposite Other objects and advantages of the invention 'mandrel. The shaft 30 receives its motion and in turn sugains the operating parts of the upon the stationary mandrel to form a round tube, a bolster 20 is provided which extends transversely of the bed in a predetermined relation to the mandreL'and beneath the same. Cross heads 21 and 22 extend upwardly from the ends of the 90 bolsier 20, .and respectively support horizontally disposed pulleys 23 and 24, which are rigid with vertically downwardly extending shafts 25 and 26, having hearings in the cross heads and having rigid with their lower ends beveled gears 27 and 28. which mesh with similar gears 29 on a shaft 30. This shaft 30 extends longitudinally of the bolster and is supported adjacent the gears 29 in the cross heads 21 and 22, and at an intermediate point by a bearing 31, being actuated in a manner which will later be described.

A winding tape passes around the pulleys 23 and 24 with the reaches of the tape crossed between the pulleys. One reach 32 extends directly from one pulley to the other, while .the other reach 33 is wrapped about the mandrel several times so as-to provide means for eng and forming the strips of stock into the continuous tube. Tensioning rollers 34 are mounted adjustably on the cross heads 21 and 22, and engage the reach 32 of the winding tape. The disposition of the bolster with relation to the mandrel is such that the turns of the reach 33 about the mandrel will, in the formation of the tube, result in the proper overlapping of the strips of stock and the proper feeding of the tube of the diam-- eter being made.

The pulleys 23 and 24 are actuated by the shaft 30 to draw, the winding tape around the stationary through the intermeshing of beveled gears 35 and 36, the latter being rigid on the shaft 30, and the former rigid with a gear 3'? which meshes with a similar but smaller gear 38 rigid with a shaft 39 extending through the-bolster and having a bearing in the bed 15. The speed of the shaft 30, and consequently the speed of rotation of the pulleys 23 and 24, may be varied by changing the ratio of the gears actuating the same. For instance the gears 37 and38 preferably are so mounted that they may be removed and replaced byother gears to change the ratio between the same.

Thus the speed of the winding tape may be varied to accommodate it to the difierent conditions of the tube being formed. That is to say the slipping of the tape may be overcome and the rate of formation of the tube may be controlled without changing the rapidity of action of the related parts of the machine. Thus with 110 the cut-off mechanism actuated at a constant rate the gears 37 and 38 may be changed to change the rate at which the tube is formed and fed to the cut-off mechanism. Consequently, the length of the cut-ofi portion of the tube may be varied.

A beveled gear 40 is rigid with the lower end of this shaft 39 and meshes with a similar gear 41 on a shaft 42 which is supported in bearings 42', depending from the bed 15 of the machine. This shaft 42 extends longitudinally beneath the bed 15 so that it will be most conveniently located, not only for the actuation of the winding tape pulleys 23 and 24, but also for the other units of the machine, as will later appear. This shaft 42 is actuated by the intermeshing of a beveled gear 43, which is rigid therewith, and a pinion 44 on a transverse pulley shaft 45. The shaft 45 is actuated by a belt which passes around the pulley 46 on the end of the shaft, and around the pulley on the commutator shaft of a motor 47, the motor conveniently being supported by a suitable frame extending between the legs 16.

Means is provided for feeding strips of stock, such as paper, under tension to the mandrel in proper angular relation thereto, and supplied with the desired adhesive to cause the strips to adhere to each other, and with a lubricant to reduce the friction between the mandrel and the strips as they are wound into a tube and fed from the mandrel in the form of a tube. This means includes'mechanism for applying a lubricant to one of the strips, that is, the one which comesinto direct contact with the mandrel, and includes also a mechanism for applying adhesive to the other strip so that when it is wound upon the previously wound lubricant-carrying strip it will adhere to the outer face thereof, and result in the formation of a rigid tube.

The embodiment of this means illustrated includes a carrier bar 48 which extends substantially vertically from, and is rigid with, an extension 49 of the bed 15. This carrier bar is provided, both above and below the bed 15, with removable trunnions 50 which extend from both sides of the bar andthrough a guide 51, the latter being held in spaced relation to the bar. The trunnions 50 are adapted to support rolls 52 of strip stock, so that a pair of rolls will be disposed above the bed 15 and, if desired, a pair of rolls may be disposed below the bed'15.

By this arrangement, the minimum time will be consumed in threading new strips of stock to the mandrel after the strips from one pair of the strips as they pass to the supply rolls are consumed. For instance, presuming that the strip stock is being fed from the upper supply rolls 52, shown in Fig. 2, the lower supply rolls 52 are in readiness to be threaded when the upper rolls 52 are exhausted.

Channeled guides- 53 and 54 are mounted on suitable supports 53' and 54', above the bed of the machine, and are arranged in suitable angular relationship to the mandrel to respectively accommodate the strips 55 and 56, which pass from the supply rolls beneath a guide roller 57. Each of these channeled guides is provided with a suitable tensioning device. These devices tension mandrel and are wound into the form of atube.

The strip 55 passes directly from the channeled guide 53 to the mandrel and forms the base of the tube on which the adhesive-coated strip 56 is wound. In order that the face of the strip 55 which contacts with the stationary mandrel may be lubricated to reduce the friction between the mandrel and the tube as the latter is formed and fed along the mandrel, I have enlarged the end of the mandrel as at 76, Fig. 1a, and extended from this enlarged end a lubricator 77, which is arranged in the path of travel of the strip 55 and has an upwardly facing opening 78 therein from which a lubricant such as oil flows to contact with the under surface of the strip. This lubricator 77 is supplied with a lubricant from a reservoir 79 carried by the enlarged end '76 of the mandrel through a duct in said enlarged end.

The strip 56 which passes through the guide 54 is suitably gummed by means of an adhesiveapplying roll 61, Fig. 2, mounted on a shaft 62 and dipping into an adhesive-supply reservoir 63 supported on a standard 64 extending upwardly from the bed of the machine and independent of the bolster 20. The rotation of the roll 61 is accomplished by means such as beveled gears 65 and 66, Fig. 1, the former being rigid with the shaft 62 and the latter with a vertical shaft 67, Fig. 2, which is actuated by intermeshing beveled gears 68 and 69, the gear 69 being rigid with the longitudinally disposed shaft 42.

The amount of adhesive carried by the roll 61 to the strip 56 as the latter passes over the roll may be controlled by means of a roller 70, which is rotated by intermeshing gears 72 and 73, the former being rigid with the roller 70 and the latter with the shaft 62. This roller 70 is normally drawn toward the roll 61 by springs 74, and against adjustable abutments by means of which the space between the roller 70 and the adhesiveapplying roll 61 is controlled to thereby control the amount of adhesive applied to the strip 56 as it passes over the roll 61.

Thus the strip 55 is lubricated before it reaches the mandrel, and consequently the friction between the mandrel and the strip is reduced to a minimum; and the strip 56 is on its under surface coated with adhesive, so that when it is wound on the previously wound strip 55 it will adhere thereto and form a rigid tube.

As the formed tube is fed from the mandrel 18 it passes longitudinally of the machine and through a guide sleeve 81, which sleeve passes through and is supported in theupper end of a vertically extending member 82. The member 82 conveniently is secured to one end of the bed 15.

In order that the tube, as it is continuously formed and fed from the mandrel 18 through the guide sleeve 81, may be cut into predetermined lengths without interrupting the continuous movement of the tube, and without distorting it, means is provided for severing the tube, which means operates very quickly while the tube is moving. The embodiment of this means illustrated in the drawings includes a cutter which operates in a path transverse to the direction of movement of the tube.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, the cutter comprises a sharp cutting edge or .blade 83 on the upper edge of a lever 84, which lever is pivotally mounted at its lower end on, and near the lower end of, the vertically extending member 82,. as by means of a screw 85. Preferably the cutting edge is fairly narrow, so that the time required to traverse the path of movement of the tube will be small, and conveniently the cutting edge 83 may be detachably secured on the lever 84. Turning movement of the lever 84 about the screw 85 is limited by means of stops such as the screws 86 and 87 set in the member 82. It will be apparent that if the lever 84 is turned from one to the other extremity of its arcuate path of movement, the cutting edge 83 will traverse the path of movement of the tube adjacent theguide s1eeve'81.

Still referring to Figs. 4 and 5, means are provided for normally biasingthe lever 84 against comprises a rocker 99 whichever one of the stops 86, 87 it may happen to rest. As may best be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the biasing means comprises a spiral tension spring 88 which is secured at one end to the lever 84, preferably near the cutting edge 88, as by means of a screw 89. The spring 88 extends downwardly along the lever 84 and beyond the screw 85 to a wheel 90 to which it is secured eccentrically, as by means of a screw 91. with the parts of the positions shown in Fig. 4, the longitudinal axis of the spring 88 lies to the right of pivotal axis 85 of the lever 84. Consequently the spring 88 tends to turn the lever 84 to the right, thereby holding the lever against the stop 87. If the lower end of the spring 88 is moved to the left a distance suflicient to carry the longitudinal axis of the spring 88 across the pivotal axis. 85 of the lever 84, the effect of the spring will be to turn the lever to the left and move the cutting edge 83 rapidly across the path of movement of the tube.

Preferably, means additional to the spring 88 is provided for normally holding the lever 84 substantially in its extreme positions, and for releasing the lever at predetermined interval s, thereby permitting turning movement of the lever, under the influence of the spring 88, from one extreme position to the other to sever the tube.

Conveniently such means comprises a stop pin 96 slidably moimted in an opening through the vertically extending member 82, the opening lying in a plane through the axes of, and between, the guide sleeve 81 and the screw 85. The-outer end of the pin, when in its outermost position, acts as a stop to prevent turning movement of the lever 84 and blade 83 across the path of movement of the tube. Means are provided for normally tending to withdraw the pin 96 from the path of movement of the lever 84, so as to permit turning movement of the lever. Such means may take the form of a spiral compression spring 9'! surrounding the pin between the member 82 and a head 98 on the inner end of the pin. Other means are provided for pressing the pin 96 forward against the pressure ofthe spring 97 to obstruct the path of the lever 84 and prevent, turning movement of the lever. "In the embodiment disclosed, this last-mentioned means pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end bearing against the head 98, while its other end carries a cam follower 100 engaging a cam, conveniently a face cam on the inner face of the wheel 90.

As shown, this face cam has two diametrically disposed depressions 101, whereby twice during each revolution of the wheel 90 the pressure of the rocker'99 on the head 98 of the pin is momentarily released to permit withdrawal of the pin 96 from engagement with the lever 84 under the influence of the spring 97, thereby permitting the lever 84 to be turned under the influence of the spring 88 acrossthe end of the pin. Thereafter, and before the spring 88 biases the-lever in the opposite direction, the cam follower moves out of the cam depression to again move the pin forward to prevent tuming'of the lever 84. The instant of release of the lever 84 may be suitably fixed by positioning the screw 91 in the wheel 90 'vention may be relative to the cam depressions 101 so as to afford a maximum turning speed of the lever 84 under the influence of the spring88.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the wheel 90 is connected to one end of the shaft 42 so as-to be rotated during the operation of the tube forming mechanism; It will be apparent that during operation of the machine the rotating wheel will carry the spring back and forth across the pivotal axis 85 of the lever 84, thereby causing the lever to turn back and forth between the stops 86 and 87, and that the provision of the stop arrangement for controlling the turning movement of the lever 84 insures the severing of substantially equal lengths of tube. ,v

Means is provided for delivering the cut-off portions of the tube from the tube severing mechanism. Conveniently such means comprises a bracket 93 which extends outwardly from the vertically extending member 82 and carries the vertical plate 94. Guide fingers 95 extend from the upper-edge of this plate 94 in substantially horizontal positions, and thence downward in spaced relation to the plate, thus providing a delivery opening through which the cut-off portions of the tube will drop after having been cast against either the plate 94 or the flnger's 95 during the cut-ofi operation and guided downward between the plate and the flngers.

' Summarizing the operation of the machine the strips and 56 of the stock are fed to the s tionary mandrel 18, the former supplied on its under face, that is, the face which contacts with the mandrel, with oil and the latter supplied on its under face, which engages the previously wrapped strip 55, with adhesive. The passage 'of these strips between the turns of the winding tape and the mandrel winds them into a continuous tube, and feeds the tube longitudinally of the mandrel to the cut-off mechanism, the cutting blade 83 of which latter mechanism intermittentlytraverses the path of movement of the tube and cuts the tube into predetermined lengths. These cut-oil portions are guided by the delivery mechanism to a suitable receptacle or mechanism for subsequently operating on the tubes.

The description of the'illustrative embodiment.

and it will be understood that the invariously modified and embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tube forming machine,'in combination. means for continuously forming a substantially rlgid'tube, means for continuously f the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into prede-' termined lengths comprising a pivoted cutter adapted to turn back and forth in a limited arcuate path about its pivotal axis, means normally biasing the cutter to one extremity of its turning movement. and means for causing said biasing means to turn the cutter rapidly to the other extremity of its turning movement.

vention,

2. In a tube forming machine, in combination, 14

means for continuously forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube'from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutter positioned adjacent the path of movement of the tube and having a limited freedom of turning movement, and means for turning the cutter back and forth about its pivot at a high rate of speed, whereby the cutter momentarily traverses the path of 150 f is not intended as defining the limits of theinmovement of the tube during turning movement in each direction to sever the tube without distortion or buckling.

3. In a tube forming machine, in combination, a mandrel, means for helically winding strips of material about said mandrel to form a substantially rigid tube and for continuously feeding the formed tube from said mandrel, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutting blade, a spiral tension spring connected at one end to a point on said cutting blade intermediate its cutting edge and its pivotal axis, and extending along said blade and beyondits pivotal axis, and means for reciprocally moving the other end of the spring across the extended longitudinal axis of the cutting blade.

4. In a tube forming machine, in combination, a mandrel, means for helically winding strips of material about said mandrel to form a substantially rigid tube and for continuously feeding the formed tube from said mandrel, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutting blade adapted to turn back and forth across the path of movement of the tube, and a single spring means for causing the blade to turn back and forth and traverse the path of movementof the tube periodically at a high rate of speed, whereby the tube may be severed without distortion or buckling.

5. In a tube forming machine, in combination, a mandrel, means for helically winding strips of material about said mandrel to form a substantially rigid tube and for continuously feeding the formed tube from said mandrelQand means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutting blade, means normally biasing the cutting blade out of the path of movement of the tube, and means for causing the biasing means to carry the cutting blade periodically back and forth across the path of movement of the tube at a high rate of speed, whereby the tube may be severed without distortion or buckling.

6.'In a tube forming machine, in combination,

a mandrel, means for helically winding strips of material about said mandrel to form a substantially rigid tube and for continuously feeding the formed tube from said mandrel, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutting blade, and means for swinging the cutting blade back and forthacross the path of movement of the tube at intervals at a high rate of speed, whereby the tube may be severed without distortion or buckling. A

7. In a tube forming machine, in combination, a mandrel, means for helically winding strips of material about the mandrel to forma substantially rigid tube and for continuously feeding the formed tube from the mandrel, tube severing means, and actuating means for periodically moving the tube-severing means back and forth across the path of movement of the tube at a high rate of speed, whereby the tube may be severed without distortion or buckling.

8. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutting blade, and means for turning the blade back and forth about its pivot at a high rate of speed, the arrangement being such as to cause the blade to traverse the path of movement of the tube momentarily during tuming movement in each direction, whereby the tube may be severed without distortion or buckling.

9. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for continuously forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube intopredetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutter adapted to turn back and forth in a limited arcuate path about its pivotal axis, means normally biasing the cutter to one extremity of its turning movement, means for causing said biasing means to bias the cutter to the other extremity of its turning movement, means for holding the cutter against tuming movement, and means for releasing the cutter to permit turning movement under the influence of said biasing means.

10. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for continuously forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined 110 lengths comprising a cutter, means for moving said cutter back and forth across the path of movement of the tube, means for holding said cutter against movement, and means for periodically releasing said holding means.

11. In a tube-forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined 120 lengths, comprising a pivoted cutting blade, and toggle mechanism for turning the blade back and forth about its pivot to cause the blade to traverse the path of movement of the tube at a high rate of speed.

12. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for continuously forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, and means for severing the formed tube into predetermined lengths comprising a pivoted cutter adapted to turn back and forth in a limited arcuate path about its pivotal axis, and means for periodically snapping the cutter back and forth within the limits of its range of movement to 135 sever the tube without distortion or buckling.

EUGENE CONTI. 

